There has also been talk, that the Preakness could move out of Pimlico, because Pimlico is an old run down track. And the owners of Pimlico own another race track in Maryland, and don’t want to spend big bucks to renovate Pimlico.
Yes, thanks for mentioning it.
From Feb, 2019
The Preakness Stakes will remain at Pimlico Race Course at least through 2020 as the track’s owner seeks to ready a “super track” at Laurel Park that could host the second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown in the future.
The owner of the race and the 149-year-old Pimlico track said Wednesday that Laurel Park would not be ready to host the Preakness in 2020 — even if the General Assembly approved a change of venue.
“It has to be run [at Pimlico] this year. It has to be run there next year,” said Tim Ritvo, chief operating officer of The Stronach Group’s racing division.
“We couldn’t hold the Preakness at Laurel in the condition it’s in. It needs the upgrades,” Ritvo said in an interview.
Baltimore leaders blast Pimlico owner for spending bulk of state renovation subsidies at Laurel Park
State law says the Preakness can be moved from Pimlico to another track in Maryland “only as a result of a disaster or emergency,” so the company would need legislative support to move the Preakness to Laurel on any other basis.
This year’s Preakness is May 18. Until now, it was uncertain what The Stronach Group’s plans were beyond 2019 — other than the company’s often-stated desire to move the race to Laurel at some point in the future.
Mayor Catherine Pugh said Wednesday that her only response to the news was that she looks forward to participating in a proposed work group to study Pimlico’s long-term outlook. ...”
https://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/horse-racing/bs-md-pimlico-future-20190227-story.html
The Belmont Stakes was run at Aqueduct for several years in the 1960’s while the new Belmont park was being built.
There was little controversy with this arrangement but horse racing didn’t have the PR problems back then that it does now.